Tag: Warren Montgomery

Posted on

Kingsport #27

Jill Stanhope Montgomery walked into the drawing room of her home to find Will Montgomery and her husband, Warren, having an early afternoon cocktail. While Jill wasn’t a stranger to the joys of alcohol, she detested the flagrant way in which Will so easily led Warren down the wrong path. Even though Warren was older than Will by nearly ten years, Jill considered Will to be the bad influence.

“I thought you were at the country club,” Warren said to his wife. “Billy and I were just talking about the wedding.”

Jill scrunched up her nose. “Oh. Are your parents paying for it?”

Will rolled his eyes. “Actually, I’m paying for my wedding, Jill. I don’t need my parents to fund my lifestyle.”

“Except that your father bought the polo club for you and your parents contribute to your trust fund,” sniffed Jill. “I’ve often told Warren that I think it will be good for our girls to grow up like normal people away from the burdens of excessive wealth.”

Will glared at his sister-in-law with marked contempt. They’d never been friends. Will found her to be vain, condescending, and rigid. Jill wasn’t the kind of person Will would ever help in a crisis, even if their lives depended on it. However, in this moment, he chose to say nothing because he valued his relationship with Warren far too much to waste his time on the likes of the financially derelict Jill Stanhope.

“Jill,” Warren said evenly, “the girls will be prepared for the wealth they will inherit. They are Montgomerys after all.”

“Actually,” said Will, “I stopped by because I wanted to ask you and Warren a question.”

Jill folded her arms with pronounced annoyance. “What?”

“I would like for Hannah and Kate to be flower girls at my wedding to Connor.”

Jill could feel the fury rising from within her. Flower girls, thought Jill, hotly. The last thing she wanted to do was subject her children to the sham of a wedding between Connor and Will. She knew all too well that Connor was not an upstanding man by any means, even if he was the single best lover she had never known. As for Will, Jill loathed him and she refused to let her girls attend any wedding to which he was a party.

“I think it’s great!” chirped Warren. “I know Hannah and Kate will love it.”

“Warren,” Jill said quickly, “don’t you think we should discuss this first?”

“What’s there to discuss,” interjected Will. “They’re going to be flower girls, not drug mules.”

Jill glared at Will. “I just think it’s something my husband and I should discuss.”

“Why?” asked Will, evenly. He did not like Jill. Furthermore, he felt he knew the reason why she didn’t like him. “Jill, I hope this doesn’t have anything to do with the fact that this is a gay wedding. I know the Stanhopes are known for their…provincial way of life…but I do hope that’s not what’s on your mind.”

Jill’s eyes flashed with marked fury. “How dare you…!”

“It’s a simple question,” insisted Will. “I’d love to have my nieces in the wedding…”

“Have you asked if Faren will be in the wedding party?” spat Jill.

Warren glared at his wife, unable to ascertain why she was behaving in such an unbecoming manner. “Jill, what has gotten into you?”

“To answer your question,” Will said as he stood up, “I asked Eli if Faren can be a flower girl and he said it was fine with him as long as Hannah and Kate were in the wedding party, too. He didn’t want anyone left out.” With that, Will bade goodbye to Warren and Jill before leaving their house.

“What the hell was that about?!” Warren said once his brother had gone.

“Don’t speak to me like that when you’ve been drinking,” huffed Jill. “I’m going to the country club.”

“Hang on,” Warren said, quickly. He moved to block Jill from leaving the drawing room, his mind racing at a thousand miles a minute. “Billy’s right.” Warren looked into Jill’s eyes which showed no hint of emotion. “He’s right, isn’t he?” Warren let all of the air out of his lungs as he moaned, “Oh, Jill…”

“I don’t approve of Billy and Connor’s marriage! Fine! I said it! I don’t want my daughters photographed for newspapers and magazines around the world at a gay wedding, Warren. My family would be mortified! I know your family will do anything to placate Billy, but I won’t do it!”

“How can you be so cruel and homophobic?!”

“I am not cruel or homophobic!”

“Jill…”

“No! Just because I don’t share the same beliefs as you, Warren, doesn’t mean I’m wrong. I am so sick of your family trying to make me into one of you. God! I don’t care if Eli lets Faren be a flower girl! I will not stand for my daughters being in that freak show!”

“How dare you say that about my brother!”

“Oh, please. Wake up, Warren. You think Billy is some sort of saint and he’s not. He’s planning to marry the man who allegedly raped your sister!”

Warren felt the blood drain from his face. “How do you know about that?!” he seethed.

“Everyone knows,” Jill said in a low growl. “It’s the worst kept secret in Kingsport. People think the Montgomery family is a joke because of Billy and Connor. You people pretend to be so upstanding and noble when your skeletons are literally falling out of your closets. I refuse to let my children be a party to this unseemly affair.”

“They’re my children, too! Don’t force my hand, Jill.”

Jill stared at Warren with contempt for the first time in their marriage. “Are you trying to threaten me?”

“I have the resources of my trusts and the Montgomery family at my disposal. You have what I give you. I will destroy you if you try to play me against my children and my family.” Warren’s eyes narrowed as he transfixed his gaze on Jill. “You get away with a lot, my dear wife. You may think you’re high and mighty, but that’s only due to me. You came from less than nothing! Society trash at its best. No money; just a name. I made you. I gave you money…access…real class… If you cross me where Billy is concerned, you’ll be out on the streets with nothing but what’s in our prenup and that’s not much, Jill.”

“You’d threaten the mother of your children…”

“No.” Warren closed his eyes to regain his thoughts. “I’m simply stating the facts. You may think you’ve won this round, but you will apologize to Billy…”

“I will not!”

“You will!!”

“No! I’m not apologizing to anyone! I do not support his union to Connor. I will not subject my daughters to that freak show, Warren. If you so much as push me on this issue, I will let everyone know about what really goes on in this family. You may have the money, Warren, but I will win in the court of public opinion.”

Warren eyed his wife carefully because, in truth, she seemed more like a stranger. “Where did you learn to be so vile?”

“From your family,” she said, pointedly.

With that, Warren stormed out of the drawing room and out of the house.

Jill collapsed on a divan as she heard Warren’s car peal down the driveway. She could hardly contain her emotions as she began to cry without knowing if the tears would ever cease. Oh, and how she ached for Connor. As she tried to console herself in her eight-million-dollar home, Jill knew all too well that Warren was right about everything. In spite of that, she couldn’t let him take away her children. And yet, she couldn’t let her children be in Will and Connor’s wedding. Either way, she would lose. However, there was only one way to ensure she wouldn’t have to compromise: Jill had to ensure Will and Connor never made it to their wedding day…

In our next installment, Warren confides in Charles…

Follow Kingsport on Twitter and Facebook.

Email us at Kingsport@SoapKast.com

© 2021; SoapKast, Inc. All rights reserved.

Posted on

Kingsport #18

The news of William Harrison Montgomery’s engagement to Dr. Connor Daniel Windsor was front page news in the Kingsport Press. A piece of public relations which only could have been crafted from the minds hired by the Montgomery family to put the best spin on their sorted private lives made people from around town send their best wishes. Women cursed the fact that two eligible bachelors were off the market while some men cursed the fact that they hadn’t been smart enough to snag Will. Everyone agreed that their union would be one of the most important since Charles Montgomery married Alison Farrell almost fifty years ago. While some things do change, the fact that society marriages are business transactions trussed up in tulle and taffeta was only known to a few. For everyone else, the gaiety and pomp during the run-up to the wedding day was the result of glitter being thrown into the eyes of those who weren’t privy to the truth.

For India Montgomery, the news of her brother’s engagement to Connor sent her into a tailspin. She wanted nothing more than to get Will out of the way, but she was warned by her father that her antics wouldn’t be appreciated or taken kindly this time around. While she had no intention of complying with Charles’ wishes, she knew better than to make an obvious disruption during Will and Connor’s engagement.

Engagement.

The word coursed through her mind with pure venom. For most of her life, she’d done whatever she could to get rid of Will. Now he was assuming her life by way of marrying Connor. It wasn’t fair. She loved Connor. She had done everything in her power to get him to love her. She had stalked him, obsessed about him, and lied about him in order for him to notice her. Now he was marring Will.

Will.

She hated him from the minute of his birth. One of her earliest memories was trying to smother him with a pillow, but one of the maids stopped her when she came in to change the bedding. A few years later, she pushed him down the stairs of the main house. At least he broke his arm that time. When Will was in college, she paid someone to hack into his computer and leak his nude photos. That was a great scandal which was never traced back to her. However, this was different. Will had gone after the man she loved. Connor was always meant to be hers and hers alone.

As India sat in the quiet of her bedroom in the main house of the Montgomery Estate, a wicked thought took root in her brain. She decided that the best thing she could do right now was to do nothing. Instead of causing a scene, she would do nothing but smile, smile, and smile again. She would tell everyone, “Yes, I am happy for my brother and Connor. The whole family is thrilled for them.” She would tell as many lies as she could to get herself through this horrific moment. And then…when everyone least expected it, she would launch an assault with such venom that no one could stop her. By the time she was done, Will would be out of the picture and Connor would be hers. It didn’t matter how far she had to go. It didn’t matter who got hurt in the end. Connor belonged to her. And, before anyone else knew it, she would become Connor’s wife.

 

 

“I really am happy for you,” Warren told Will and Connor over breakfast at his house. “It’s nice to celebrate good news for once.”

Jill Stanhope Montgomery chewed on a bagel with a false smile plastered on her face. “This really is great to hear,” said Jill, coolly.

“Has India given you any grief?” asked Warren.

Will shook his head. “It’s the oddest thing. She seems fine with it.”

“India’s finally got the hint that I don’t want anything to do with her,” said Connor, firmly. “I’m with the man I love.”

Warren smiled broadly. “That’s what I like to hear. I hate to break-up this little gathering, but I have to get to the office.”

“Could you drop me off at the polo club? I have some work to do before we see Connor’s parents tonight,” said Will.

Jill watched as Will and Warren left the house, bonded in their mutual brotherly love. She turned to Connor with disdain in her eyes. For years she had avoided this man. Now she was engaged to her brother-in-law and she’d never be free of craving him with every inch of her being. “You can leave now,” she said, hotly.

“Jill,” cooed Connor. “Even after two children, you look as fit as I remember.” He gave her a dashing smile. “We had fun, didn’t we?”

A nervous sensation coursed through Jill’s body. The sound of his voice – the sound which haunted her dreams – made her wet with desire. “That was a long time ago. I’m happy with Warren.”

“Warren’s a great guy…”

“And one of your friends…”

“But he’s not me. Remember that time you squirted clear across the room at the Kingsport Arms?” Connor moved closer to Jill, his hot breath tickling the hairs on her neck. “I remember how you would masturbated in front of me before going on your first date with Warren.” He leaned into her, his lips just millimeters from her ear. “I can still smell you all over me.”

Jill sat frozen in her suppressed lust for Connor. “I’m happy with Warren.”

“That’s the thing about happy people… They don’t convince everyone that they’re happy.” He let his hand graze her bare knees. “We did have fun, Jill… So much dirty fun,” he whispered. “Well,” he said, his voice returning to normal, “thank you for breakfast. Whoever would have thought that we’d end up married to the Montgomery brothers. We must be lucky.” Connor stood up and began walking to the entryway of the dining room.

“Do you love Will?”

Connor turned to Jill with a bemused smirk. “Yes, I love him.”

“Does he know about us?”

Connor’s gunmetal blue eyes shimmered with menace. “He never will. It was years ago.”

“I could tell him.”

“You won’t.”

“I should.”

“You won’t.” Connor sauntered over to Jill, placed his hand between her legs, and rubbed the sensitive spot on her thigh that always made her quiver. “Don’t ever threaten me again.” His voice dropped as he whispered, “If you don’t want to wind up like India, keep your mouth shut.”

“Connor,” Jill said, her voice quaking with fear and lust.

“Go masturbate, Jill. Oh, and thanks for breakfast.”

Jill sat in her seat for what seemed like hours. No matter how much she hated Connor, she wanted him. Even though she wanted to expose him to the world, she knew he could ruin her life. She felt trapped. She hated this man, but craved him all the same. In that moment, Jill Stanhope Montgomery cried for the first time in years. The tears weren’t because she was afraid, but because she was willing to throw everything away for one more night with Connor. She knew he could be dangerous, but his touch alone made Jill lose her mind. There, in the perfect dining room in her perfect house, Jill Stanhope Montgomery let the tears fall as she rued the day she’d ever met Dr. Connor Windsor.

 

In our next installment, Nicholas arrives in Kingsport…

Follow Kingsport on Twitter and Facebook.

Email us at Kingsport@SoapKast.com

© 2021; SoapKast, Inc. All rights reserved.

 

Posted on

Kingsport #16

“You need to talk to him.” Warren kicked off his riding boots across Will’s office. “You’ve been miserable all weekend, Billy. The way you sulked through mine and Dad’s Father’s Day dinner was embarrassing.”

Will glared at Warren over his computer monitor. “Warren, I’m busy,” snapped Will. “I don’t have time to talk about Connor.”

Warren suppressed an exasperated eyeroll. He loved his baby brother, but he knew Will could hide behind the pretense of being hurt and shocked to avoid dealing with issues which bothered him. “Billy, stop it. You love Warren. I haven’t seen you this happy in years.”

“I’m not happy with him now.”

“So?”

“He slept with India!”

“Years ago! Everyone has a past. If you expect him to be pure without a hint of a past, you’re delusional.” Warren plopped down on the sofa near the windows in Will’s office. “When you lived in New York and Amsterdam, I know you weren’t celibate. I doubt Connor holds it against you.”

“That’s different,” insisted Will.

“How?!”

“I didn’t sleep with Connor’s sister!”

“Billy, grow up. You can’t allow India to rule your life. We all know she’s obsessed with Connor. That’s old news. If they had an affair or whatever years ago, it’s none of your business.”

Will bit his bottom lip. “It is my business…”

“Billy. Come on.” Warren shook his head with annoyed love. “Let it go. Don’t throw away your relationship with Connor because of India. She’s not going anywhere. If you two can’t ignore her, then you don’t deserve each other.”

“When I was in Paris, Mother seemed to believe that the only reason India came back to Kingsport was to cause trouble with me and Connor.” Will eyed Warren carefully. “Do you think she’s right?”

Warren nodded in agreement. “It’s classic India.”

“Our parents should have had her committed when they had the chance,” Will muttered under his breath. “She’s always looking for ways to ruin my life.”

“Then stop letting her ruin your life, Billy. Right now, you’re choosing to be India’s victim. Grow a pair and fight her head on. Or, better yet, ignore her. The less power you give her, the more she’ll fade away,” reasoned Warren. “When is Connor getting back from Maine?”

“Today,” sighed Will. “But I don’t know, Warren…”

“You need to see him. Forgive him. Move on. Why don’t you make dinner for him and apologize?”

“I haven’t done anything wrong!” exclaimed Will.

“Billy, I love you, but you’re acting like Dad right now. It’s time you admitted that you overreacted and move on. Be happy with Connor. Forget about India. If you can’t do that, then you don’t deserve to be happy.”

 

 

“Why has the board approved a stock buyback?” Sheila Davenport handed her son, Dylan, a copy of an internal email that she had procured through an ally at Davenport Technology.

Dylan put on his reading glasses as he skimmed the email. “Mom, this is a matter for the board of Davenport. It has nothing to do with me.”

Sheila let out an exasperated sigh. Without Dylan in control of Davenport Technology, she felt shutout from the real decision-making process of the company. While Sheila enjoyed the dividends that came from Davenport Technology’s position as a publicly traded company, she did not enjoy having little to no say like she did when it was controlled by Larry. “Dylan,” began Sheila, “the stock price is too high. Meredith should have received board approval when the stock was trading around thirty dollars a share.” She pulled up the stock symbol of Davenport Technology’s current price. “See,” she thrust the phone into Dylan’s face. “The stock is at eighty-two dollars a share right now. This is madness!”

“Mom,” said Dylan, softly, “this isn’t my problem anymore.”

“This is about protecting the family’s legacy…”

Dylan let out a long, irritated sigh. His plan for today was to go to the gym, have lunch with Lisa’s husband, Jackson, and make dinner for a woman he’d been seeing for the last month. However, his mother’s unexpected visit to his six-bedroom, eight-bathroom, ten-room mansion in one of the few gated communities in Kingsport, had waylaid his plans. “I don’t want to hear about the family legacy,” snapped Dylan. “You only talk to me when you want to complain about how Meredith McCarthy is ruining the company, or when the stock price isn’t where you want it, or how if they didn’t ask your opinion about what type of paper on which to print the annual report! I can’t remember the last time you asked me about my personal life. Quite frankly, I’m sick of it.”

Sheila sat in her son’s Drawing Room with marked silence. She knew her eldest child could be volatile, but he’d never deigned to be so abrupt with her. “Had you not quit as the CEO of Davenport, none of this would be an issue. You abandoned the company.”

“I’ve given most of my life to the company. I’m forty-nine years old. I want more from life. I want to enjoy myself. Travel. Have a second act.”

Sheila shook her head. “Go and find yourself. Travel the world. Have your second act, Dylan. But when you’re doing all of those wonderful things, remember that it’s the company stock sitting in your trust fund which allows you to live a carefree, self-indulgent life. You were supposed to live up to your father’s legacy, not runaway because the job was too hard. I’ve never been more ashamed of you than the day you announced your resignation. Just pitiful.” Sheila stood up, collected her alligator purse, and glared at Dylan with marked contempt. “I’m calling a family meeting to discuss the company. We may not own the company outright anymore, but through our trusts, we do control thirty percent of the company. What we say goes. I want Davenport Technology to last another hundred years. You may have abandoned the company, but I most certainly have not.”

Despite his mother’s harsh words, Dylan refused to waver. “You are entitled to your opinion. Just one thing: If you do call this family meeting, you’ll have to invite Eli.”

Sheila turned to Dylan with fire in his eyes. “He normally gives you his proxy.”

“I did that to keep the peace. Eli understood. I’m not doing it anymore, Mom. If you want to wage this war with Meredith and the board, then Eli will have to be a part of that conversation.”

“I can’t believe you’d do that to me,” hissed Sheila. “I do not want to see Elijah!”

“Tough. I’ve made up my mind. I’m done being your whipping boy…your unpaid therapist. Call a meeting. Invite Eli back into our lives. Or let Meredith run the company. The choice is yours. Either way, I will not do your bidding anymore.” Dylan walked to the door of the Drawing Room and opened it without looking at Sheila. “Have a nice day, Mother.”

In our next installment, Dylan confides in Lisa…

Follow Kingsport on Twitter and Facebook.

Email us at Kingsport@SoapKast.com

© 2021; SoapKast, Inc. All rights reserved.

Posted on

Kingsport #13

Dylan Davenport paced throughout the library of the Davenport Mansion while he sipped a glass of iced tea. He hadn’t intended on visiting his mother today, but now that he was no longer the Chief Executive Officer of Davenport Technology, he had all the time in the world. As Dylan surveyed the first editions of tomes by Morrison, Fitzgerald, and Walker carefully displayed on perfectly decorated bookshelves, he lost himself in the moment.

“I am sorry I’m late,” Sheila stated as she walked into the library. She placed her alligator handbag on an ottoman as she gave Dylan a hug. “You look good, Dylan. I’m glad to see you’ve lost those pesky fifteen pounds. An athletic form suits you.”

Dylan smiled through his mother’s backhanded compliment. She provided these toxic bon mots so regularly he rarely noticed them anymore. “It’s nice to see you, too, Mom.” He cleared his throat. “You said you wanted to talk about something important…”

Sheila pursed her lips. “I’m not happy with the way Meredith is running Davenport Technology.”

“The Board of Directors selected her as the new CEO of Davenport. She’s just started her three-year contract. Give her time.”

“In theory that sounds lovely, but I’m concerned, Dylan. The stock price rose from thirty-eight dollars a share to one hundred and fifty dollars a share thanks to the pandemic, but now it’s languishing around eighty-four dollars a share.”

Dylan eyed his mother carefully. While Sheila claimed to be the steward of Davenport Technology, she was more concerned about a steady stock price and quarterly dividends more than anything else. “Mom, the company is in fine shape. It’s better than when I left it.”

“You provided the groundwork for Meredith. I fear that once she’s done coasting on your strategy, she’ll be adrift and take the company down with her.” Sheila wrung her hands together as she often did when she was forming a plan. “Dylan, I think you should come back to Davenport as the Chairman of the Board.”

Dylan shot his mother an incredulous stare. “No!” he exclaimed. “My days at Davenport are well and truly behind me!”

“Dylan, be serious. This is your legacy! It’s Faren and Oliver’s legacy, too!”

“Mom, don’t talk to me about legacies. My marriage fell apart because I spent four years trying to save the company from hostile takeovers, bad business deals, and rapacious investors. I’m not willing to give up my life for Davenport. Not this time.”

Sheila narrowed her eyes on Dylan. She knew he was right, but for Sheila, the good of the company always outweighed the family’s personal lives. “I think your father would want you to be the guiding force at the company…”

“Mom, don’t even…”

“Larry always wanted you to be the steward of Davenport Technology. We knew it may not be easy once we took the company public, but you exceled in the role. I think it may be time for you to, well, reclaim your birthright.”

“No, Mom. I’m out. Lisa, Nicholas, or Eli can assume the position!”

“Lisa is busy at the auction house. Nicholas has a life – if you can call it that – of his own in Manhattan. As for Elijah, I’d rather sell the company before he had any role in it.”

Dylan shook his head with great disappointment. “Eli is smarter than all of us put together. He’s proven himself as a Silicon Valley investor. He’s been on the covers of Forbes and Fortune on his merit and acumen alone. If you want one of us to become the Chairman of the Board, then call Eli.”

“That’s out of the question,” snapped Sheila, hotly.

“But it’s perfectly fine to call him when you want someone to persuade India Montgomery to stay out of town.”

Sheila’s eyes went wide. “Did he tell you that?!?”

“No, Lisa told me.” Dylan placed the crystal glass on a coaster. “Mom, you can’t use Eli for your personal use on one hand and shun him with the other. It’s cruel.”

“I don’t want to talk about Elijah, Dylan.” Sheila turned her back to Dylan as her eyes searched the grounds of her ten-acre estate.

“Fine. I need to get going anyway… I have a conference call in an hour.” Dylan reached for his keys and started for the doorway of the library when he stopped dead in his tracks. He turned to his mother and said, “You and I both know that whatever happened when Dad disappeared may never be solved. Whether or not Eli had anything to do with it is beside the point. It’s been thirty years. He’s your son. He’s my brother. You can keep shutting him out, but one day, you may need him and he won’t be there.” Dylan took a deep breath as Sheila kept her back to him. “Have a nice day, Mom,” he said with a sigh.

When Sheila heard the door to the library close, she wiped a stray tear from her cheek. She wasn’t sure if the tear was for her, Larry, or Eli, but for some reason on that oddly lonely Monday afternoon, Sheila Davenport allowed herself to feel emotions she had suppressed for a very, very long time.

Dr. Connor Windsor climbed down from Will’s horse, Sir Galahad, with a heavy sigh. The blinding afternoon sunlight combined with the heavy humidity made Connor more irritable than he’d been in days. He removed his riding helmet, handed it to the groom, and made his way across the fields of the King’s Polo Club. When Will was in town, they often rode together providing Connor had time in his schedule. Now that Will was in Paris for an undetermined amount of time, Connor agreed to ride Sir Galahad as often as he could. However, being at the club and away from Will made Connor’s heart heavy with sorrow. While Connor hadn’t truly loved anyone before, he had loved Will from the moment of their first kiss. It was something Connor couldn’t describe, but he was truly, madly, deeply in love with William Montgomery.

Connor made his way into the locker room when he spotted Warren Montgomery putting on his riding boots. “Warren,” called Connor. “This is a nice surprise.”

Warren stood up, gave Connor a hug, and replied, “The big case I was working on settled out of court, so I decided to come for a ride before going home.” Warren surveyed Connor carefully. In all of their years of friendship, he’d never seen Connor so glum. “Are you doing all right?”

“I guess. Considering.” Connor removed his sweat soaked polo shirt, tossed it into the hamper, and wiped down his hairy chest with a towel. “I miss him.”

“Yeah. Billy’s missable.”

“I spoke to him on Saturday. He seems happy…like he’s calmed down a bit.”

Warren nodded politely. “If we give Billy space, he’ll come around. He’s just…in his feelings…or whatever they say now.”

Connor poured a glass of cucumber water. “I hope so. It’s such a mess. I didn’t want it to be this way.”

Warren gave Connor a curious stare. “Didn’t you?”

“What?”

“You had whatever relationship you had with India and then you date Billy. Going between a brother and a sister, Connor? That’s a little macabre, no matter the spin you put on it.”

Connor could feel the heat rising in his soul. “I didn’t have a relationship with India!”

“You have a history with her,” stressed Warren. “Everyone knows India’s fragile… But dating Billy? I know you two are serious, but you wouldn’t have kept it a secret for so long if you weren’t embarrassed by the whole thing, Connor.”

“Warren, I love Billy. Everything that happened in the past with India was a big mistake.”

“I guess.” Warren grabbed a towel as he started for the door of the locker room. “India and Billy have always had a fraught relationship. Always. You should’ve known that, Connor. If anyone is responsible for Billy going to Paris, it’s you.” With that, Warren strode out of the locker room leaving Connor to ponder his scathing words.

In our next installment, Barbara meets India…

Follow Kingsport on Twitter and Facebook.

Email us at Kingsport@SoapKast.com

© 2021; SoapKast, Inc. All rights reserved.

Posted on

Kingsport #12

News of Will Montgomery’s escape from Kingsport first rippled through the Montgomery Estate followed by whispers at the country club and exaggerated rumors among the masses. He had left town with one suitcase and not a word of goodbye to anyone. Many found this odd; others found it exciting. Warren Montgomery wasn’t amused by his brother’s decision to abscond without a goodbye and he told him so that morning on the phone.

“Is Billy all right?” asked Jill with faux concern.

Warren placed the phone on the receiver with a weary sigh. “He’ll be all right. Mother is in Lisbon right now, so he’s staying at The Ritz until she gets back on Thursday.” Warren returned to the table, poured another glass of water, and let out an exasperated sigh.

“I think this is a lot of sound and fury for a lot of nothing,” intoned Jill. “Billy could have simply sorted out whatever needing sorting without causing all of this drama.”

“You don’t know the whole story. He had his reasons, Jill.”

“Warren, everyone coddles Billy like he’s made of glass. He loves the attention. No one but an attention whore would leave town like that without saying goodbye,” sniffed Jill.

Before Warren could respond, there was a knock at the door. He stood up to answer it, but one of his maids got there first and showed in his uninvited guest.

“I haven’t slept in days,” Connor told Warren, wearily. “I’m furious with him.”

Jill scrunched up her nose at the sight of an unshaven Connor. While she found his look quite rough, the more she looked at him, the more she wanted to make love to him on the dining room table as Warren watched them. “Coming to someone’s home uninvited is the height of incivility, Connor!”

Connor glared at her. “He won’t tell me where he is, Warren. We talked last night, but he…”

“He’s in Paris. I just got off the phone with him. He’ll be just fine. Billy needs a few days to calm down,” explained Warren. “Jill, would you mind giving us a moment?”

Jill let out a livid huff as she stormed out of the dining room and into the garden.

“Connor, I didn’t want you to say this in front of Jill, but Billy told me he may very well stay in Paris…indefinitely.”

Connor’s eyes went wide. His head fell into his hands as he suppressed a scream. “This is all because of India! She’s trying to ruin my life…again!”

“Connor…”

“Warren, I love your brother. Billy is the best thing to ever happen to me. I want him here with me, not off in Paris.”

“It’s out of our hands. Dad flew over there the minute he heard Billy was leaving for Paris, but it wasn’t any use. Billy said he was staying there indefinitely. He’s made up his mind, Connor.”

“No. This is because of India. Billy and I were happy and content before she showed up in town with her lies. Your sister broke into my house last week. She’s up to her old tricks again, Warren. It’s no wonder Billy left town without a word.”

Warren stared at his friend with mounting worry. “Maybe dating my brother after your past with our sister wasn’t your best idea, Connor.”

“I didn’t plan it. I never thought I’d see India again. I never wanted to see her again, Warren. Can you go to Paris and make Billy see sense? Let him know that I love him and I will protect him.”

“I have a full caseload. The trouble with Uncle Walt isn’t over yet and then I have to handle a case of corporate malfeasance. I can’t drop everything to chase after Billy. If you love him so much, you need to go to Paris.”

Connor shook his head. “I can’t. I’m swamped at the hospital for the next six weeks.” Connor felt like he was going to be sick. “I’ll keep trying to convince him that he belongs in Kingsport with me. I can’t lose him, Warren. I just can’t…”

Jill Stanhope Montgomery sat at her usual table at the Kingsport Arms Hotel without a worry in the world. While she detested the way in which Connor interrupted her quiet breakfast with Warren, she was secretly glad to have been able to see him…smell him in such a raw state. Jill tried to push the thought out of her mind, but it was useless. For all of her breeding and education, she couldn’t help but want Connor in her bed and inside of her. Warren gave Jill everything she needed; Connor had given her what she wanted. That meant sex. Lots of it. Multiple times a day. Life as a bored, wealthy housewife wasn’t in Jill’s original life plan, but she was content in her sexless marriage to Warren. Yes, he was attractive, wealthy to the point of excessive, and a wonderful father, but they hadn’t had sex in three years and she minded more than her husband. Jill had her share of affairs and anonymous sex throughout the years, but no one did to her what Connor had done to her all those years ago. Her whole body ached for him. God, she wanted that man…

“Jill?”

Jill snapped out of her reverie to find Lisa Davenport Collins standing before her. “Lisa,” she said, lightly. “Join me.”

“I can’t. I have to get to the auction house. My work is never done.”

“You don’t need to work…”

“I like working. It gives me something to do…and I enjoy being one of the few people who uses their Master’s in Art History. We should have a drink or dinner one of these nights.”

Jill smiled. “I’d like that.”

“Great. I’ll text you.” With that, Lisa walked out of the hotel.

Jill watched her friend go. She always admired Lisa Davenport Collins. She was the kind of woman who was born into generations of money, had a wonderful family, worked, and traveled the world. On some level, Jill was jealous of her friend, but in the best way possible. A moment later, Jill groaned internally as she saw India Montgomery walking towards her.

“Jill,” hissed India. “Dining alone. How appropriate.”

“It’s nice to see you, too, India. I should be going…”

“Stay. Have a drink with me. I saw you were chatting with Lisa Davenport. She has a lot of big ideas about herself.”

“Lisa is one of the nicest people I know. I don’t understand why you have to be frosty towards her. She’s your daughter’s aunt!”

India sat at the table, plopped the napkin on her lap, and ordered a glass of white wine from a passing waiter. “She’s of no bearing in my life.”

“India, I should get going…”

“Connor and Warren are friends, yes?”

Jill felt her throat tighten. “You know they’re friends…”

“It seems odd to me that no one knows where Billy has disappeared to. I think it says a lot about how he feels about Connor if he’s willing to vanish without telling anyone where he went… Don’t you agree, Jill?”

Jill couldn’t stop feeling as if she was caught in the black widow’s web. “I think… Billy likes attention.”

“He does. The little queen,” laughed India. She narrowed her eyes on Jill with such intensity she knew she was making Jill squirm in her chair. “I’ve always thought of us as friends, Jill. I do hope you aren’t lying to me about where Billy is right now.”

“I haven’t the slightest clue.”

“And Warren…”

“Ask your brother. I’m sorry, India, but I do have to go.”

India sipped the white wine as she watched Jill scurry out of the dining room. A curled smile formed on India’s lips. She couldn’t have planned this any better herself. Will had removed himself from Connor’s life and no one knew where he was hiding. India knew Connor would be grief stricken. Connor needed someone in his life. Connor couldn’t exist without someone to worship him. In that moment, India knew now was the right time to do whatever was necessary to make Connor hers. She didn’t care if Billy lived or died as long as he stayed away from Connor. India raised her glass and toasted her brother for making her next move entirely too easy…

In our next installment, Dylan takes a stand with Sheila…

Follow Kingsport on Twitter and Facebook.

Email us at Kingsport@SoapKast.com

© 2021; SoapKast, Inc. All rights reserved.

Posted on

Kingsport #8

Montgomery Industries sat in the heart of Kingsport’s business district. The privately held company was based in a low-slung brick building from the 1800s which was filled with the hottest technology and smartest people money could buy. Montgomery Industries was a holding company which owned all of the Montgomery family’s assorted business interests going back generations as well as managing an empire which made them billions of dollars every year on top of the fifty billion dollars they were worth. The company was owned by members of the Montgomery family, but in the 1960s, Charles’ father, Bennett, bought out all of his cousins, gave them shares in a lesser family enterprise, and consolidated ownership of the company to Bennett and his direct heirs. In the wake of Bennett’s death forty years ago, Charles, his sisters Alice and Sandra and their brother, Walton, each inherited 25% of Montgomery Industries. From that moment on, Charles and his siblings were the some of the wealthiest people in the world. Moreover, very few people knew about their offshore interests, private trust funds, and varied economic interests which they had inherited over the years. While the public thought Charles and his siblings were worth $30 billion each, Charles true net worth was closer to $40 billion. Charles didn’t care to correct the record because he had little interest in being truthful to people who were only after his money.

Charles Montgomery, IV sat in his office on the executive floor of Montgomery Industries. He was a man who’d never worked, yet he insisted that other people learn the value of a dollar, and thought his children were gifts from god. While he could be mean, stingy, and entitled, Charles wanted to ensure his children never wanted for anything. He rubbed his eyes as he finished reading a report concerning a chemical company Montgomery Industries had bought from his brother, Walton, ten years ago. When Walton decided he wanted to run for Governor of California, Montgomery Industries bought the company, but Walton’s campaign failed like all of his other ventures. Now, Charles was in charge of cleaning up his brother’s mess. Again.

“Dad, I’m ready when you are.”

Charles looked up to see Warren standing in the doorway dressed to perfection in an Italian suit. He let out a little smile. “I’m not ready for this, Warren. It’s not good is it?”

Warren sat in a chair directly across from his father’s desk. He pulled out the same report concerning The Chemical Alliance Company. “I don’t see how Uncle Walt can talk his way out of this one, Dad. I think…as council for Montgomery Industries…that the company pays a fine, Uncle Walt pays a fine so they won’t throw him in prison, and we move on. Any legal proceedings will damage The Chemical Alliance Company, Montgomery Industries, and our family.”

“Walton is such a moron,” bit Charles. “He’s always been like this. Our father thought Walton was the golden child, but he was just a little shit with too much money and no responsibilities.” Charles grabbed the report and tossed it in his desk. “Have you talked to Walton?”

“No. I’ve reached out to his team. I know Janet Ruiz, one of Uncle Walt’s lawyers. I’m sure she’ll make him see sense. Dad, I know you didn’t want The Chemical Alliance Company or Montgomery Industries to pay the fine because of Uncle Walt’s actions, but it really is the best way forward.”

“Fine. Once the details are in place, I’ll tell Stephanie to wire the funds. It’ll be good to have this over and done with once and for all.”

Warren nodded and started for the door, but something inside him made him stop. “Dad, I’m concerned about India.”

“She’s fine. I think she’s adjusting well.” For all of Charles’ finer qualities, he could be flippant about India’s dark side.

“I think we should keep an eye on her. Billy told me what she accused Connor of doing to her and now that he’s with Connor and she’s back in town…”

Charles shook his head. “It’s none of our business, Warren.”

“Dad, I’m afraid if we pretend like everything’s fine, it’ll create a huge blind spot where India is concerned.”

“Warren, there’s nothing to worry about. India’s fine. Billy and Connor are safe. You’re worrying about nothing, son.”

Connor walked into his bedroom after working a double shift at Presbyterian Medical Center. He’d lost a patient who overdosed on ketamine and another who was shot by his wife. While Connor enjoyed being a doctor, these were the days which made him rethink the trajectory of his life. If he had gone into investment banking at the family firm Windsor & Associates, he would have been able to swan off to London or Hong Kong like his sister, Deanna. Instead, he was stuck in Kingsport trying to save people who, in some circumstances, didn’t want to be saved. Although he wanted to see Will today, Connor was too tired to spend time with the love of his life.

Will. Connor had never before considered a relationship with a man, but that one fateful day two years ago changed everything. He and Will were both at the country club when they realized their tennis partners hadn’t shown up. Instead of playing a match, they had lunch in the clubhouse and there was an instant spark. A few days later, they had dinner. The next weekend, they went to Connor’s cabin in Maine where they spent the whole weekend in bed. It was new territory for Connor, but everything in that moment felt right. Whole. Real.

As Connor stepped out of the shower, he quickly toweled off, silenced his phone, and stepped into his darkened bedroom. He crawled into bed when he felt something under the covers. Knowing it wasn’t Will, Connor flicked on the bedside lamp to find India giving him a menacing glare in the dim bedroom.

“I’ve missed you,” she whispered.

“How the hell did you get into my house?!”

India stood up to reveal her nude, supple body. It shimmered in the dimly lit bedroom. “You used Billy’s birthday for your security code. I guessed you would.” She let her hands find their way to her vagina. Her head fell back in wild bliss as she began to rub herself. “I know how much you like this, Connor.”

“Get out of my house, India!” he screamed.

India slowly walked over to him. She pressed her nude body against his. India could feel his rising erection on her leg. “I thought you liked men now,” she whispered, coolly.

Connor shoved her across the room with such force she grabbed onto the bureau to stop from falling. “I hate you. I’ve always hated you,” seethed the doctor.

“You may hate me, but I know you can’t resist me, Connor. I challenge you. I make life more interesting. Billy can’t do what I’ll do… You can do whatever you want to me…like you did before…”

“I’m not going to tell you this again, India. Get. Out. Of. My. House.” Connor grabbed a robe, tied it around his waist, and turned on all of the lights in his bedroom. “You’ve lost your mind.”

India released a husky chortle. “You and I know the truth. You’ve never been able to keep your hands off of me…whether I wanted you or not.” She bent down, picked up a full-length trench coat, and put it on. “One of these days, you’ll be inside of me. You’ll be in my arms. Billy is a distraction. You may love him, but you’re obsessed with me.”

“You have lost your mind.”

“Men always say that when women hit too close to home.” India slipped into her six thousand dollar heels as she marched towards the door. “I know the truth, Connor. So do you. It’s only a matter of time before everyone finds out…including Billy.” With that, India slipped out of Connor’s house.

His heart raced as it hadn’t in years. While he wasn’t terrified of her, he knew that she was dangerous. He also knew exactly what she was talking about. Connor couldn’t let the truth come out, especially her version of events. In his brightly lit bedroom, the doctor decided that now was the time to begin spinning his version of events because if there was one thing he knew how to do, it was how to make everyone doubt the truth…

In our next installment, Barbara doubles down on her plans for the future…

© 2021; SoapKast, Inc. All rights reserved.